Business
- BBC
Tamagotchi gets first UK store as global sales double
informed Summary
- Tamagotchi, the virtual pet toy from the 1990s, has seen a resurgence in popularity, with global sales more than doubling between 2022 and 2023. The brand has also opened its first shop in the U.K., located in London's Camden Market.
Business2 min read - The Guardian
The great divide: Are office workers more productive than those at home?
informed Summary
- Amazon has mandated that corporate employees return to the office five days a week starting from next year, joining other companies like Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Boots, and Barclays in limiting remote working.
Business4 min read - NPR
Fax machines permeate Germany's business culture. But parliament is ditching them
informed Summary
- Four out of five companies in Germany still use fax machines, with a third doing so frequently, according to the country's digital industry association. The Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, has been instructed to stop using them by the end of June and switch to email for official communication.
Business4 min read - CNN
Elon Musk once mocked China’s BYD. Now it’s running circles around Tesla
informed Summary
- Chinese carmaker BYD, backed by Warren Buffett, has overtaken Tesla as the top seller of electric vehicles globally. BYD has also unveiled a new hybrid powertrain that can travel 1,300 miles without refueling, significantly more than other hybrids on the market.
Business3 min read - El Pais
Drinks, flirting and PowerPoint: How the worst of work culture is colonizing our time off
informed Summary
- PowerPoint parties, where each attendee presents a topic of their choice, are becoming a popular trend, especially among Generation Z. These parties are seen as a fun and creative way to connect with friends, using digital tools they are already familiar with.
Business6 min read - TIME
Accidents spur concern but air travel remains safe
informed Summary
- Despite a series of high-profile airline accidents, statistics show that air travel remains significantly safer than road travel. In 2023, there were no fatalities among the 37 million commercial airline flights.
Business3 min read - TIME
What German soccer club Leverkusen’s undefeated streak means for its owner Bayer
informed Summary
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen, owned by German conglomerate Bayer AG, has just completed the first-ever undefeated season in the Bundesliga, Germany's top-tier football league. It has also played its way into two cup finals.
Business3 min read - Neue Zürcher Zeitung
How FlixBus went from a single bus to a global transport provider
informed Summary
- FlixBus was founded by André Schwämmlein, Jochen Engert and Daniel Krauss, who digitized the traditional mode of bus transport without owning any buses or hiring drivers. Instead, they partnered with external companies who own the buses, employ drivers, and bear operational responsibility.
Business8 min read - CNN
Airline meals used to be plentiful and luxurious. Here’s what happened
informed Summary
- In the golden age of air travel, passengers in the 1960s would enjoy a lavish meal from the menu. These days, though, passengers in club class are lucky if they receive a free meal on international flights and for shorter flights, ttey often have to make do with complementary peanuts and water.
Business4 min read - TIME
How the Gulf is reshaping Africa
informed Summary
- More than 50 African leaders attended the first ever Saudi-Africa summit in Riyadh last year, aiming to secure a portion of the $40 billion Saudi Arabia plans to invest in Africa. The event highlighted the growing economic and political ties between the Gulf petro-states and Africa.
Business3 min read - El Pais
The Australian billionaire who is rebuilding the ‘Titanic’
informed Summary
- Australian millionaire and former MP Clive Palmer has announced plans to build an exact replica of the Titanic, with the aim of having it ready to sail in mid-2027. This is not the first time Palmer has promised to rebuild the ship; two earlier attempts fell through due to lack of funding.
Business5 min read - The Verge
Why Spotify is still fighting with Apple in Europe
informed Summary
- Spotify has been updating its app to display pricing information in-app for users in the EU. This is part of its ongoing legal battle with Apple.
Business2 min read - Sky News
Political party in Germany 'calls for kebabs to be subsidised'
informed Summary
- The German Left Party has proposed using state funds to cap the price of a kebab at €4.90 (£4.20) for adults and €2.50 for young people.
Business1 min read - AP News
The Taliban are working to woo tourists to Afghanistan
informed Summary
- The Taliban is training a cohort of men in tourism and hospitality in Kabul, Afghanistan, despite the country's struggling economy and poor infrastructure. The students, who vary in age, education level and professional experience, are eager to promote a different side of Afghanistan.
Business4 min read - Sky News
'My misery, your paradise': The problem with tourism in the Canary Islands
informed Summary
- Protests have erupted in the Canary Islands against a tourism model that locals say is damaging the environment, driving up housing costs, and forcing them into unstable work. The tourism industry accounts for 35% of the Canary Islands' GDP, and while locals acknowledge the importance of tourism for the economy, they are questioning its sustainability.
Business9 min read - CNN
Rolls-Royce is growing its factory so it can build cars more slowly
informed Summary
- Rolls-Royce is expanding its factory in Chichester, England, with the addition of five new buildings. The expansion is not aimed at producing more cars, but rather more expensive, customised vehicles.
Business3 min read - CNN
The flight attendant who became CEO hopes more women will make it to the top
informed Summary
- Mitsuko Tottori, the first female president and CEO of Japan Airlines, has called for an increase in the number of female managers in Japan. She hopes that Japan will soon become a place where "people are not surprised when a woman becomes a president.”
Business4 min read - El Pais
Levi’s tightens its belt to add flare to its jeans
informed Summary
- Pop star Katy Perry was seen at the Coachella festival wearing baggy jeans, which -- according to various fashion magazines -- are making a comeback. This trend is being capitalized on by Levi Strauss & Co., which is focusing on baggy pants and denim skirts in its efforts to retain consumers.
Business4 min read - CNBC
How climate change is beginning to be built into employee pay and benefits
informed Summary
- More employees are seeking "green" perks as part of their job benefits, with a focus on commuting as a way to reduce carbon footprints. These benefits could include facilitating eco-friendly modes of transportation, such as biking or electric vehicles.
Business5 min read - TIME
What it's like to have a four-day workweek
informed Summary
- There is a growing trend among major companies -- including Panasonic, Kickstarter, and ThredUp -- to adopt a four-day workweek. This is being advocated by groups such as 4 Day Week Global, which promotes the "100-80-100 rule": achieving 100% productivity in 80% of the time, while still earning 100% of regular pay.
Business7 min read
